WAYCROSS, Ga. — Dozens of people from Waycross, and neighboring towns, showed up to Monday night's Okefenokee Regional Library System board meeting to share concerns they had with an LGBTQ+ mural and bathroom usage at the Waycross-Ware County Public Library.
The board voted to postpone a decision on library initiated displays and exhibits at the library and pushed a decision on library bathroom usage, as well.
“It makes me uncomfortable for them to display the flags and stuff signs and stuff that they’ve been displaying," Waycross neighbor, Carolyn James, said.
In October, the library took down pride flags inside the library after receiving a complaint.
The local board overseeing the library reached a compromise saying it could put up a mural.
But it wasn’t the answer some people were looking for.
“That’s when we moved into getting rid of any displays the represent any sexuality and getting into the issue with the transgender usage of the bathroom," library director, Martha Powers-Jones, said.
Powers-jones said the Waycross-Ware County Public Library has never had an issue with transgender people and bathrooms.
The regional board overseeing the library discussed bathroom renovations, but needs more guidance from attorney’s before moving forward.
For now, the library will discuss allowing one-person in the bathrooms at a time.
The regional board’s attorney also said taking down the mural would violate the first amendment.
The board will get a second legal opinion and weigh comments from the public.
“Every single flag represents what they are sexually get them out we just want it out of here we don’t want it our kids learning that here we want them learning about Peter Pan, Tom Sawyer,” Folkston neighbor, Ray McMillan said.
“It’s particularly important for people who have been marginalized in other areas of the area that they are able to come here and feel welcomed and appreciated," Blackshear neighbor, Tom Strait, said.
The regional board’s next meeting will be in August where it will act on the future of displays and bathrooms at the library.